January 2016

Thanks for stopping by.  Let me catch you up.  Toward the end of last year we asked the question "Is Jesus worth following?"  We answered "Yes!" since Matthew 4 tells us he is the Son of God and he is able to resist and overcome all evil.  Then we asked "What does it mean to follow Jesus?"  Using the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, we looked at the famous beatitudes, Jesus teaching on being salt and light in this world, and watched a helpful video about the commands of how the Old Testaments fit in with Jesus' teachings.  (See the video here.) 

Call me crazy, but I think it's a really good idea to read the Bible in order.  That's why we're going to be starting where we left off in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:21.  Like I mentioned in the newsletter, we're going to be covering hate, lust, marriage, and keeping promises.  Here's a quick overview for each: 

• Hate (Matthew 5:21-26) – To be angry with someone is just as bad as murder.   Instead, we should love them with the love we get from God. 
• Lust (Matthew 5:27-30) - Sexual lust is mental adultery, which harms the unity that God designed in marriage. 
• Marriage & Divorce (Matthew 5:31-32) - God sees marriage as the uniting of a man and a woman.  Any consideration of dividing a marriage or divorce saddens God and is never his desire.  Even though there are some circumstances where divorce is an option, it should always be considered prayerfully, carefully, thoughtfully, and reluctantly.
• Keeping Promises (Matthew 5:33-37) - Be wise with your words.  Avoid putting yourself in a situation where you have to compromise your beliefs because of something you said. 

As you see, we’re not shy about tackling some tough topics.  Let me give you one simple way to use this information.  Ready?  Pray.  Really, that’s it.  Pray for your son/daughter to understand and embrace what Jesus is teaching.  Pray for us leaders to communicate it clearly and lovingly.  Pray for enjoyment every Wednesday night.  Pray for wisdom for all.  Pray for lives to be changed.  Pray for God to do what only He can do.  I have other suggestions, but I’ll save those for later.  For now, pray.  I think you’ll find is a good, challenging place to start.